Washington (CNN) - Republican disarray over taxes forced House Speaker John Boehner to drop his alternative proposal to a fiscal cliff deal, leaving the negotiations in limbo Friday - 11 days before automatic tax increases on everyone.

Boehner said at a news conference Friday morning that his Republican colleagues refused to back his plan because of what he called unfounded fears of being blamed for a tax increase.

New York (CNNMoney) - It's not the end of the world - literally or for the fiscal cliff talks - but the latest signs of gridlock on Washington have struck fear into investors.

Lawmakers in the House failed to support the so-called "Plan B", a proposal backed by House Speaker John Boehner, late Thursday. The White House had already threatened to veto that plan, saying it would bring only "minimal" changes in projected budget deficits, but its failure underscored the lack of progress on Capitol Hill as the cliff draws nearer.

(CNN) - With the so-called fiscal cliff looming and the U.S. economy limping back to life, an overwhelming majority of Americans rate today's economic conditions as poor and are split on where the economy will be four years from now, according to a new survey.